ALDF Announces Caitlin Hawks as New Executive Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) today announced Caitlin Hawks as its new executive director. Hawks has served as ALDF’s chief programs officer for the last two years and previously held a series of leadership roles at the PETA Foundation.

“Caitlin Hawks has the perfect mix of expertise, acumen, and vision – the strategic mindset that is essential to leading ALDF into its next era,” said Brian Cooley, ALDF board chair. “It’s rare to find a leader who can marry passion with pragmatism, innovation with tradition, and leadership with humility. That’s exactly what we have with Caitlin, and that’s precisely what the animal movement needs right now as we endeavor to have even greater reach and impact. In short, this is spectacular news for every animal in need.”

Hawks has dedicated her career to innovating new legal and multi-disciplinary advocacy strategies to advance animal protections and expand animal law. Hawks most recently oversaw ALDF’s legal programs, where she led teams focused on animal legislation, litigation, regulation, criminal justice, student education, academic cultivation, and pro bono support.

“I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role, where I can continue to drive and evolve ALDF’s groundbreaking work to advance animals’ interests, rights, and legal protections,” said Caitlin Hawks, ALDF’s incoming executive director. “Giving voice to at-risk animals is my life’s work, and it is a privilege to be able to guide a powerhouse team of colleagues who have deep and varied expertise, as well as a shared and unwavering commitment to the cause. I’ve always believed animals need good lawyers, and it’s an honor to take the helm of an organization dedicated to that mission.”

During her time at ALDF, Hawks conceived, developed, and launched the Transparency & Regulatory Affairs Program, which is focused on acquiring records, analyzing data, cultivating expert analysis, and identifying enforcement opportunities in order to allow ALDF to move faster, act sooner, and build stronger legal and policy strategies for animals. She also designed and implemented the expansion of ALDF’s Animal Law Education & Scholarship Program to support non-legal academic scholarship that advances the field’s legal, scientific, and policy goals.

Prior to ALDF, Hawks held progressive litigation leadership roles at the PETA Foundation, where she founded and built the organization’s litigation division, managing a robust docket of both proactive and defensive legal proceedings as the organization’s general counsel for litigation.

Earlier in her career, Hawks practiced intellectual property, commercial, and employment litigation at notable law firms including Savitt Bruce & Willey LLP and Milbank LLP. While in private practice, she still was able to work on several significant animal law cases in a pro bono capacity to hone her skills and fortify her passion for protecting animals through the legal system.

Hawks received her B.A. from the University of Puget Sound and her J.D. from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She will begin serving in her new role in January.